MIDDLE & SCHOOLUPPER
WELCOME
Sacred Heart is the oldest independent all-girls school in New York City. Our community has lived the mission of our foundress St. Madeleine Sophie Barat since 1881 by inspiring generations of students to lead meaningful lives. Today, our vibrant, mission-driven Catholic school empowers each young woman to share her passion and purpose. We celebrate our Sacred Heart heritage and traditions as we strive for higher excellence and pursue a bold vision for our future.
A deep respect for intellectualvalues
A personal and active faith in God
GOAL I
GOAL V Personal growth in an atmosphere of wise freedom
GOAL II
MISSION
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A social awareness which impels to action
As part of a 200-year tradition of Sacred Heart education and a global network of 41 countries and over 150 schools, 91st Street is committed to a set of principles shared by all Sacred Heart schools. Known as the “Goals and Criteria,” these principles articulate the core components of a Sacred Heart education, and charge our community with a unified educational mission. At the heart of our philosophy is the belief that each child possesses unique gifts. Our job is to unearth those gifts, nurture them, and empower each child of the Sacred Heart to share those gifts with the global community.
GOAL IV
The building of community as a Christian value
GOAL III
GOALS
2 Founded in 1881 700 students 6.7:1teacherstudent:ratio 89% of faculty have advanced degrees #1 all-girls Speech team in New York 17+ AAIS inChampionshipsTournamentthelast5years 60+organizationsclubsstudent-ledand 159 Sacred Heart schools around the world AT a GLANCE
n Mathematics*
n MS: Social Studies/US: History and Social Sciences
n Technology/Computer Science
* Upper School (US): Honors and Advanced courses available
* Middle School (MS): Honors available
REQUIREMENTSCOURSE
n Science*
Sacred Heart’s Middle and Upper Schools provide students with the critical discourse, experiences, and self-discovery to help them impact their community and empower them with resilience, ethical discernment, and confidence. Vibrant offerings of student-led clubs, visual and performing arts, sports, and community service complement individually customized curriculum across a range of disciplines, encouraging students to explore their interests and grow as leaders. The low student to teacher ratio fosters meaningful connections between students and faculty in the form of support and mentorship.
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STUDENT SUPPORTS
In the Upper School, the Student Success Center provides ongoing support for each student from faculty advisors and Deans. A learning specialist and writing specialist also collaborate with teachers to support student’s academic growth. Importantly, students will meet regularly with the College Counseling team beginning in Grade 9.
n English
n Performing and Visual Arts*
n World Languages* (French, Spanish, Latin, Mandarin)
Students benefit from a range of support services to facilitate their independence, executive functioning, and confidence. The Middle School Learning Specialist works with students both individually and in small groups to strengthen organization and cognitive skills by scaffolding classroom assignments. Middle School Wellness Days empower students to make safe, healthy choices and to communicate effectively with their peers.
n Physical Education
n MS: Religion/US: Theology
ACADEMICS
INTELLECT
At Sacred Heart, students join a vibrant learning community that inspires curiosity, confidence, and a lifelong love of learning. Encouraged to become independent learners and creative collaborators, students take intellectual risks, learning from their mistakes. At each level, Goal II inspires them to build their skills of critical analysis, creative thinking, leadership, and ethical discernment.
I consider it a privilege to teach mathematics in an all-girls school. Mathematics is a universal language;
Senior year culminates in an opportunity to pursue a mission-based capstone project in which students complete in-depth, collegiate level research on a subject of their choosing. Each student presents the findings of her research in the spring of senior year to the broader school community.
The Psychology Behind Conspiracy Theories. From Calista: “I am so grateful to have had the opportunity to work with our Head of School, Dr. Ciancaglini for my capstone project! Psychology has always interested me, and I have been able to connect with world renowned psychologists about their research, as well as delve deeper into one of my interests outside of the classroom.”
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Healthcare: African American Women’s Devastating Maternal Mortality Rates. From Maria: “I chose this topic because I want to bring awareness to our Sacred Heart community about one of many ways that racism permeates the American healthcare system. By educating ourselves on the racial inequality that pregnant African American women face, we are equipped with knowledge needed to change these injustices and fight for equality for all American healthcare.”
12thSPOTLIGHT:GradeCapstoneProject
COMM
UNITY
Each Sacred Heart student is valued and respected for who she is. As students grow in self-knowledge and confidence, they learn to value similarities and differences in others—both in school and beyond. Their engagement with Goal IV and the global community inspires them to stand up for what they believe and effect meaningful change.
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SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
Through our science and technology curriculum, students grow in courage and confidence as they cultivate strengths and learn from their mistakes. Science and technology are brought to life by identifying real world problems, generating creative solutions, and building and testing prototypes. Sacred Heart’s recently completed FutureLab space includes a Life Sciences lab, two Chemistry labs, a Physics/Engineering lab, a research lab, an indoor atrium, and a digital media lab. The Makerspace features 3D printers, a university-grade laser cutter, a soldering station, an embroidery and sewing station, and sensors and electronics.
FutureLab will prepare our students to impact an increasingly complex world. Guided by our tremendously talented faculty and staff, our students will build the skills and confidence they need to navigate a constantly changing technological landscape.
Photography Dance Robotics Sports
GovernmentStudent Engineering and Computer Science Club InstrumentalMusic Mock Trial Creative Writing
Diversity, Awareness, & Inclusion Coalition Team
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FAIT
Goal 1 calls us to bring the love of God into the world. Our school community nurtures the spiritual lives of all its members as they explore the values of faith, hope and charity. Our religion curriculum focuses on an understanding of Catholicism as well as an awareness and acceptance of all religions. Every student learns that she is unique and loved by God.
TH
The academic study of theology is at the heart of the curriculum for all Upper School students. Grade 11 students learn to do exegetical work and to use the historical-critical method in their interpretation of religious texts. Each student proposes a research project on a specific theme, and shares her findings with the class at the end of the year. Recent theology projects have included:
An Analysis of the Death Penalty and its Relationship to Catholicism: Justice or First Degree Murder? From Sarah: “By researching the death penalty this past year, I have truly developed a heightened awareness for all human dignity and a greater sense of compassion and mercy for the imprisoned.”
The theology curriculum is rooted in the Hebrew and Christian scriptures. During their time in Middle and Upper School students explore the Catholic sacraments, ethics and philosophy, as well as the main tenets of other world religions.
Castro’s Cuba: The Complexity of Religious Oppression, Liberation Theology, and a Catholic Renewal. From Carolina: “I really enjoyed the process of researching my theology topic, liberation theology and Cuba, because it showed me how the government impacts the practice of faith and how we can find theology in political topics.
Theology11SPOTLIGHT:thGradeProjects
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Through —“why?”askinginterests,exploringmanagement,theIfulltodedicationtherequiredcompletetheresearchprocess,learnedaboutvalueoftimeone’sandlargerquestions.11thGradeStudent15
As students grow in social awareness, compassion, and character, they discover a deep sense of purpose, drawing upon Goal III and their own unique talents to impact the world. They emerge from the Upper School’s transformative social justice program as leaders passionate about creating meaningful change, and confident that they can do so.
ACTI
ON
Courses in Middle School include Art and Ancient Cultures, 2D and 3D Art, and Contemporary Art; in Upper School, students delve into Sculpture, Ceramics, Painting, Photography, Film, 3D Design, Art History, and advanced level courses.
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Performing Arts
Visual Arts
Sacred Heart’s Visual Arts program challenges students to consider what it means to be an artist, explore the role that art plays in shaping our culture, and experiment with different mediums and compositional strategies.
The robust Performing Arts curriculum empowers students to refine their performance, public speaking, and story-telling skills, as well as grow in self-confidence and responsiveness to others. Drama and Music classes in Middle School cover Characterization Exploration, World Music & African Drumming, Western Theater, and Developing Voice through Music & Drama. In Upper School, students can participate in Chorus, Orchestral Ensemble, Madrigals, and Music Theory. Both Middle and Upper School students may audition for musical and drama productions that take place throughout the school year.
Rooted in the Goals and Criteria of Sacred Heart education, Sacred Heart values diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) as integral parts of educating and empowering young women to lead lives of purpose that integrate faith, intellect, social action, community and personal growth in an atmosphere of wise freedom. In addition to monthly studies of annual heritage months and cultural holidays, students participate in lessons and conversations about identity and diversity so that every child can have a deeper understanding of and apprecia tion for who she is and who her peers are, as well as better prepare for meaningful dialogue about and engagement in justice and action. Teachers incorporate Learning for Justice’s antibias framework into units of study, read alouds and interdisciplinary projects. Beyond the classroom, students engage in DEI through workshops, presentations, affinity spaces, cultural groups and all-school events.
OpportunitiesLearningService
• Network of Sacred Heart Schools Summer Service Projects
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• Alternative Spring Break Service Learning Domestic & International Projects
• Monthly Habitat for Humanity Builds
• Ignatian Teach-In for Justice: Washington, D.C.
• H.E.A.R.T. (Health, Education and Responsible Tools) Summer Program
• SIA (Students in Action)
• YPI (Youth and Philanthropy Initiative)
LifeCommunityEquityDiversity,and
In line with Goal V, students are continually supported as they grow and learn, celebrate successes, and make mistakes. As they develop empathy and exercise resilience in meeting challenges, they discern what gives them a sense of meaning, and how to lead change within their communities.
PERSO GROW
ONAL WTH
2x NY State Forensics League Champions
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Sacred Heart’s robust public speaking program challenges our young women to find and share their unique voice. The forensics speech team is one of the most popular extracurricular activities with 20% of students competing in local, state and national competitions. Our team is proud to be one of the largest and most successful independent school teams in New York State.
• Top finishing independent school in New York City
Forensics
• 5th Place Sweepstakes
• 2nd Place Sweepstakes at the NYCFL Grand Championship
• Top finishing independent school in New York state
• 25 Qualifiers
8x National Qualifiers
• 15 Awardees
Key Achievements
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In Exploring Entrepreneurship, students spend one week in the San Francisco Bay Area through the Sacred Heart campus in Atherton and one week in New York City through the Sacred Heart campus in Manhattan. Students engage as a cohort in field visits with expert panels, workshops and learning, design sprints, and networking dinners and activities. During the academic year from September to May, a seminar series meets regularly with guest speakers for insight, discussion and reflection. During the second summer intensive, each 91st Street student will engage in their design sprint to identify a real-world problem and build a real-world solution.
Upper School students may choose to study at one of our Sacred Heart Network Schools in the U.S. or internationally for part of a semester. Students have recently studied in Nantes, France; Madrid and Barcelona, Spain; Rome, Italy; Dublin, Ireland; Sydney and Brisbane, Australia; and Taipei, Taiwan.
In the U.S., students have attended Sacred Heart Network schools in Miami, New Orleans, Omaha, San Francisco, Grand Coteau, Washington, D.C. and Seattle.
Exploring Entrepreneurship
Visiting ProgramStudents
At Sacred Heart, we ask each member of our community to open their hearts and seek a deeper understanding of the challenges that face our world. We encourage students to be agents of constructive change and move our faith towards action. Our hope is to build a morecaredpersonsociety,equitablewhereeachisvaluedandfor.MichaelChung, Director UpperOutreachCommunityofandSchool
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GymnasiumFull-sizePoolYardDanceStudioandTrainingFacilities
Middle School and Upper School
Our FACILITIES
1 East 91st Street
Lower School
7 East 91st Street SpaceMaker#1Space Life LabScience
CenterandAthleticsFutureLabBuildings1and7Wellness 406 East 91st Street Maker
#2
CafeteriaAtrium Chemistry Labs
The school is housed in two Onenvironment.learninganwhichmansionshistoricprovideextraordinarythelowerlevel of our 91st Street buildings, our FutureLab brings together the science and technology classrooms for the entire school. The students can also eat in the cafeteria or use community spaces to worktostudentsfacility60,000aWellnesstheCompletedcollaborate.in2014,AthleticsandCenterisstate-of-theart,squarefootthatallowsofallagesswim,playsports,outordance.
S.T.E.A.M.Labs
Convent of the Sacred Heart 1 East 91st Street New York, NY 10128-0689 www.cshnyc.org212.722.4745
Convent of the Sacred Heart admits students of any race, religion, color, sexual orientation, or national or ethnic origin to all rights, privileges, programs and activities generally accorded or made available to students at the school. The school does not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, sexual orientation, or national or ethnic origin in the administration of its educational policies, admissions policies, scholarship and loan programs, or athletic or other school-administered programs.
